US, Saudi Arabia strike Iranian targets in Iraq after Iran's drone attacks

The US and Saudi Arabia carried out joint strikes on Iranian targets in Iraq on Tuesday, July 28, hours after the US military said it had intercepted multiple ballistic missiles launched by Iran at American bases in the region.

“The unwarranted attacks against US forces were not successful,” US Central Command (CENTCOM) said, adding that US and Saudi forces conducted precision strikes against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The US military believed the Iran Guards were “directed to attack US forces and Saudi energy infrastructure.”

The strikes targeted logistics hubs and weapons sites used by Iran Guards in eastern Iraq.

According to CENTCOM, Iran Guards launched more than 30 drone attacks within a span of 72 hours against US forces and Saudi energy infrastructure

“The IRGC and its terrorist proxies must cease these attacks to avoid further US military response,” CENTCOM warned.

The operation comes after CENTCOM earlier said Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had launched multiple ballistic missiles at US bases in the region in an attempted attack. “All Iranian missiles were successfully intercepted. U.S. forces remain vigilant and at a high state of readiness,” it said in a post on X.

Separately, Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry condemned continued drone attacks from the Iranian side in Iraq, targeting oil facilities in the kingdom’s Eastern Province.

“The Kingdom affirms its right to take all necessary measures to protect its security, stability and national interests,” the ministry said, while calling on Iraq to prevent its territory from being used to launch attacks against neighbouring countries.